JP5741484B2 - Sleep control device and moving body - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sleep control device and a moving body that control sleep depth.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a sleep control device that induces a user to sleep using a natural sleep rhythm when the degree of arousal is reduced, and recovers the user's fatigue and the like. In Patent Literature 1, the user maintains a shallow sleep so that the user does not fall asleep, sets a sleep maintenance time for sleep control according to the sleepiness level, and awakens the user after the set time has elapsed. Thus, a sleep control device that supports appropriate sleep according to the sleepiness level of the user is disclosed.

JP 2009-213707 A JP 2011-110261 A JP 2011-092536 A JP 2011-083474 A

  By the way, when the sleep control device as described above is mounted on a vehicle, even if the sleep control is performed, disturbances such as vibration and noise occur when the vehicle passes, for example, a sharp curve or unevenness on a traveling path. When this occurs, there is a problem that the user wakes up before the elapse of the sleep maintenance time due to this disturbance.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the sleep control apparatus and moving body which can control sleep depth appropriately, without being awakened even when a disturbance generate | occur | produces.

  The sleep control apparatus according to the present invention includes disturbance information acquisition means for acquiring disturbance information, and control means for controlling the sleep depth of the user based on the disturbance information acquired by the disturbance information acquisition means.

  According to the present invention, the sleep depth is controlled based on the disturbance information. Therefore, even when a disturbance occurs, the sleep depth can be appropriately controlled without being awakened. For example, this sleep control device is mounted on a vehicle, and even if the vehicle passes through a sharp curve or unevenness on the traveling road and a disturbance occurs, it becomes possible to control the sleep depth based on the disturbance information in advance. It is possible to prevent the user of the sleep control device from awakening before the scheduled awakening time elapses, and to appropriately control the sleep depth.

  In the sleep control device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the control means deepens the sleep depth of the user before receiving the disturbance. According to this invention, since it becomes possible to deepen the sleep depth based on disturbance information in advance, it is possible to prevent the user of the sleep control device from waking up before the scheduled awakening time elapses, and appropriately It becomes possible to control the sleep depth.

  The sleep control apparatus according to the present invention further includes a communication unit that communicates with an information management center that collects disturbance information. The control unit is a user based on disturbance information collected by the information management center received by the communication unit. It is preferable to control the sleep depth. According to the present invention, it is possible to use disturbance information collected at the center when performing sleep control. Therefore, the sleep depth can be more appropriately controlled using disturbance information with higher reliability.

  Moreover, the mobile body according to the present invention is a mobile body provided with a sleep control device, the sleep control device is a sleep control device according to the present invention, and the control means is based on disturbance information. Control the user's depth of sleep. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user of the moving body from waking up before the scheduled awakening time by increasing the sleep depth of the user of the moving body at the time of occurrence of the disturbance. The sleep depth can be appropriately controlled.

  According to the present invention, the sleep depth can be appropriately controlled without being awakened even when a disturbance occurs.

It is a schematic block diagram of the sleep control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the sleep control process of the sleep control apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the sleep control apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the sleep control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an effect | action of the sleep control apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the same element or the same equivalent element, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sleep control device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A sleep control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a vehicle 100 such as an automobile. The vehicle 100 functions as a moving body. The sleep control device 1 is a device that supports comfortable sleep by controlling the sleep depth of the user when the user (passenger) of the vehicle 100 feels sleepy. The sleep control device 1 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2, a physiological information detection unit 3, a disturbance information acquisition unit 4, and a stimulus applying device 5.

  The physiological information detection unit 3 detects the physiological information of the user. The physiological information detection unit 3 is connected to the ECU 2. The physiological information detection unit 3 detects physiological information such as the number of blinks of the user and the heart rate. Examples of the physiological information detection unit 3 include a detection device including an image sensor and an image processing unit for measuring the number of blinks. This image sensor is attached to the front panel of the vehicle 100, for example, and images a user's face. The image processing unit performs image processing on the face data of a plurality of users imaged by the image sensor and measures the number of blinks in a certain time.

  Moreover, as another physiological information detection part 3, there exists a heart rate measurement sensor for measuring a heart rate, for example. The heart rate measurement sensor is built in, for example, a backrest part of a seat, and measures a user's heart rate. Such physiological information detection unit 3 starts detection of various physiological information when the engine of vehicle 100 is started. The physiological information detection unit 3 outputs various detected physiological information to the ECU 2.

  The disturbance information acquisition unit 4 functions as disturbance information acquisition means for acquiring disturbance information. The disturbance information acquisition unit 4 is connected to the ECU 2. Examples of the disturbance information acquisition unit 4 include a curve detection unit, a step detection unit, and a sound detection unit.

  As said curve detection part, the car navigation apparatus mounted in the vehicle 100 is mentioned, for example. The car navigation apparatus includes a map database, and map information including curve information is stored in the map database. The curve information includes information on at least a curve position, a curve radius, a road gradient in a traveling direction, a limit vehicle speed, a road type, a clipping point, and the like. The car navigation device transmits a navigation information signal including the current position information of the vehicle 100 and the curve information thereof to the ECU 2.

  Examples of the step detection unit include a CCD camera and an image processing device. The CCD camera is attached to the front of the vehicle 100, for example, and images the front of the vehicle 100. In the CCD camera, a captured image obtained by capturing the front of the vehicle 100 is transmitted to the image processing apparatus as an image signal. The image processing apparatus recognizes the shape and size of the step based on the received image signal. The step detection unit recognizes the shape and size of the step located in front of the vehicle 100 in this way, and transmits the step information of the recognized step to the ECU 2.

  Examples of the sound detection unit include a sound collector such as a microphone. The sound collector collects noise or the like outside the vehicle 100. Then, the sound collector converts the collected sound into an electric signal and transmits it to the ECU 2 as sound information.

  In addition to the above, the disturbance information acquisition unit 4 acquires construction information and the like as disturbance information by VICS (registered trademark), acquires event information and the like as disturbance information by an Internet Twitter or the like, and disturbs weather information. It may be acquired as information.

  The stimulus imparting device 5 is a device that imparts a physical stimulus to the user. The stimulus applying device 5 is connected to the ECU 2. As the stimulus imparting device 5, for example, a speaker that imparts an auditory stimulus by sound can be cited. The speaker is built in, for example, a headrest portion of the seat. Moreover, as another irritation | stimulation provision apparatus 5, the light-emitting device which provides the visual stimulation by light is mentioned, for example. The light emitting device is attached to, for example, a front panel.

  The ECU 2 is a control unit that performs overall control of the sleep control device 1 as a whole. The ECU 2 stores a sleepiness level detection unit 21 that detects the current sleepiness level of the user, a sleep depth determination unit 22 that determines the sleep depth of the user (hereinafter referred to as “current sleep depth”), and a plurality of sleep patterns. A sleep pattern storage unit 23 that performs sleep pattern selection, a sleep pattern selection unit 24 that selects a sleep pattern, a sleep time measurement unit 25 that measures an elapsed time of the sleep pattern, and obtains a target sleep depth at the elapsed time and is based on disturbance information. The target sleep depth setting unit 26 that corrects the target sleep depth, the sleep depth comparison unit 27 that compares the sleep depth in the sleep pattern according to the sleepiness level and the current sleep depth, and the grant that gives the user of the vehicle 100 a stimulus And a stimulation control unit 28.

  The sleepiness level detection unit 21 detects the sleepiness level of the user of the vehicle 100 based on various physiological information detected by the physiological information detection unit 3. The sleepiness level detection unit 21 detects the sleepiness level according to the number of blinks and the heart rate that are the physiological information detected by the physiological information detection unit 3. As the sleepiness degree, for example, the sleepiness degree is classified into six levels from 1 to 6 from mild to severe according to the lightness of sleep. Specifically, the sleepiness degree 1-2 can be defined as extremely mild, the sleepiness degree 3-5 can be mild, and the sleepiness degree 6 can be defined as severe sleepiness that requires recovery from fatigue.

  The sleep depth determination unit 22 determines the current sleep depth of the user. The sleep depth determination unit 22 determines the current sleep depth of the user based on, for example, the heart rate detected by the physiological information detection unit 3.

  The sleep pattern storage unit 23 stores a plurality of sleep patterns P1 to P4 corresponding to, for example, sleepiness level. The sleep patterns P1 to P4 are classified into sleep patterns P1 to P3 corresponding to sleepiness degrees 3 to 5 which are mild sleepiness and sleep patterns P4 corresponding to sleepiness degree 6 which is severe sleepiness. The sleep patterns P1 to P3 are sleep patterns in which the sleep depth is maintained for a certain period of time at the sleep depth 2, which is a shallow sleep that allows a person to sleep. Specifically, the sleep pattern P1 is a sleep pattern corresponding to the sleepiness level 3, and the time that is maintained at the sleep depth 2 is, for example, about 5 minutes. The sleep pattern P2 is a sleep pattern corresponding to sleepiness level 4, and the time maintained at the sleep depth 2 is, for example, about 10 minutes. The sleep pattern P3 is a sleep pattern corresponding to sleepiness level 5, and the time that is maintained at the sleep depth 2 is, for example, about 30 minutes. On the other hand, the sleep pattern P4 is a sleep pattern using a natural sleep rhythm. Note that the sleep depth is 1 to 4 in this embodiment, and the depth becomes deeper as the number of sleep depths 1 to 4 increases.

  As described above, the time for maintaining the sleep of about 5 minutes in the sleep pattern P1, about 10 minutes in the sleep pattern P2, and about 30 minutes in the sleep pattern P3 is set. Hereinafter, this time is assumed to be awakening scheduled time T. The awakening scheduled time T may be set for each sleep pattern as described above, or may be a time when the vehicle 100 is scheduled to arrive at the destination or a time arbitrarily set by the user, In short, it is sufficient if the user wants to wake up.

  The sleep pattern selection unit 24 selects one sleep pattern corresponding to the sleepiness level detected by the sleepiness level detection unit 21 from the sleep patterns P1 to P4 stored in the sleep pattern storage unit 23. Information about the sleep pattern selected by the sleep pattern selection unit 24 is output to the sleep time measurement unit 25 and the target sleep depth setting unit 26.

  The sleep time measurement unit 25 measures the sleep time that is the elapsed time from the start of the sleep pattern selected by the sleep pattern selection unit 24. The sleep time measurement unit 25 outputs the measured sleep time to the target sleep depth setting unit 26.

  The target sleep depth setting unit 26 acquires the target sleep depth in the sleep time measured by the sleep time measurement unit 25 from the sleep pattern input from the sleep pattern selection unit 24. And the target sleep depth setting part 26 correct | amends the target sleep depth acquired based on disturbance information. Specifically, the target sleep depth setting unit 26 determines the acquired target sleep depth when the disturbance information acquisition unit 4 detects any of a curve, a step, a noise source, and the like around the vehicle 100. Correct to the target sleep depth to deepen. The depth of sleep to be deepened can be, for example, one level or two levels. The number of steps of deepening the sleep depth should be increased as the degree of disturbance increases.

  The sleep depth comparison unit 27 compares the target sleep depth set (corrected) by the target sleep depth setting unit 26 with the current sleep depth, and outputs a comparison signal regarding the difference to the applied stimulus control unit 28.

  In response to the comparison signal from the sleep depth comparison unit 27, the application stimulus control unit 28 controls the stimulus application device 5 so as to provide the user with any one of the arousal stimulus, the maintenance stimulus, and the wakefulness stimulus. The awakening stimulus giving signal, the maintenance stimulus giving signal, or the wakefulness stimulus giving signal is outputted to the giving device 5.

  Next, an example of the operation of the sleep control device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A series of processes shown below is repeatedly executed by the ECU 2 at predetermined time intervals.

  First, in step S10 (hereinafter referred to as “S10”, the same applies to other steps), one sleep corresponding to the sleepiness level detected by the sleepiness level detection unit 21 among the sleep patterns P1 to P3. A pattern is selected by the sleep pattern selection unit 24.

  When the sleep pattern is set in S10, the current sleep time nt corresponding to the elapsed time is measured by the sleep time measurement unit 25 at regular time intervals (S12). Subsequently, physiological measurement is performed by the physiological information detection unit 3 (S14). And based on physiological information, such as a heart rate from the physiological information detection part 3, a user's present sleep depth SL is determined (S16).

  In S16, after the user's current sleep depth SL is determined, the target sleep depth setting unit 26 acquires the target sleep depth SL1 at the current sleep time nt of the selected sleep pattern (S18). And disturbance information acquisition part 4 detects disturbance, such as a curve, a level difference, or noise, and disturbance information is acquired when a disturbance is detected (S20).

  In S20, when disturbance information is acquired, the target sleep depth setting unit 26 corrects the target sleep depth SL1 in consideration of the disturbance information (S22). Here, when the disturbance information acquisition unit 4 detects that there is a disturbance such as a curve, a step or a noise source around the vehicle 100, the target sleep depth SL1 is corrected to a deeper value.

  After the processing of S22 is completed, the sleep depth comparison unit 27 compares the current sleep depth SL with the target sleep depth SL1 (S24), and if SL1 <SL, that is, the target sleep depth SL1 is the current sleep. When it is shallower than the depth SL, the user is deeply asleep, so that the stimulus control unit 28 controls the stimulus imparting device 5 to give the user a wakeful stimulus (S26). Such arousal stimuli include visual stimuli such as flash light from a light emitting device, auditory stimuli such as music reproduction with sound pressure exceeding a sensory threshold (for example, about 60 to 80 dB with white noise), or a seat. It is appropriately selected from stimuli such as getting up.

  Further, as a result of the comparison in S24, when SL1 = SL, the target sleep depth SL1 and the current sleep depth SL coincide with each other, so that the application stimulus control unit 28 controls the stimulus application device 5 and maintains it for the user. Stimulation is applied (S28). As such a maintenance stimulus, an acoustic stimulus that continuously reproduces weak light or weak vibration, or repeatedly reproduces a sound of a predetermined sound pressure level (for example, about 55 dB for pink noise) for a time Δt in a cycle of 30 seconds. Etc. are appropriately selected.

  Further, as a result of the comparison in S24, when SL1> SL, that is, when the target sleep depth SL1 is deeper than the current sleep depth SL, the user's sleep is shallow, so the application stimulus control unit 28 controls and uses the stimulus application device 5 The person is given a sleep arousal (S30). Such a hypnotic stimulus is appropriately selected from perceptual stimuli such as room temperature adjustment suitable for sleep, tactile stimuli by massage, and auditory stimuli such as music reproduction suitable for sleep. In particular, when the target sleep depth SL1 is corrected to a deep sleep depth in S22, a stronger arousal stimulus than usual is applied, and when the vehicle 100 reaches a point where a disturbance occurs, the user sleeps. There is a high possibility that the sleep depth is deeper than the sleep depth of the pattern.

  After the process of S26, S28 or S30 is completed, the process proceeds to S32, and the current sleep time nt and the expected awakening time T are compared. As a result of the comparison, when the current sleep time nt is smaller than the expected awakening time T, the process returns to S12 and repeats the control for maintaining the sleep depth of the user. On the other hand, as a result of the comparison in S32, when the current sleep time nt is equal to or greater than the expected awakening time T, the user is awakened by giving the user an arousal stimulus stronger than the arousal stimulus in S26 (S34). ). Thereby, the sleep control by the sleep control apparatus 1 is complete | finished.

  By the way, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), when there is a route to a destination having a part under construction or a rattling part in the middle, in the past, as shown in FIG. 3 (b) This construction or rattling causes the user's sleep depth to become shallower when passing through a spot or rattle, and the user wakes up before the scheduled wake-up time T elapses. It was.

  However, according to the sleep control apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, it controls so that sleep depth may be changed based on disturbance information. Therefore, even when the vehicle 100 passes through a construction site or a rattling site, control is performed to increase the sleep depth of the user before reaching the construction or rattling as shown in FIG. Therefore, the user does not wake up before the scheduled wakeup time T elapses, and the above problem can be solved. The same applies to other disturbances such as sharp curves and noise.

  Next, the sleep control device 51 according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the sleep control device 51 of the second embodiment is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the information management center 30 via the communication device 6 as shown in FIG. 4. And different. The communication device 6 is a communication unit that is provided in the vehicle 100 and transmits / receives information between the ECU 2 and the information management center 30. In the second embodiment, when the vehicle 100 acquires disturbance information, the vehicle 100 manages the disturbance information together with information about the position where the disturbance occurs, the degree of disturbance, and the relationship between the disturbance degree and the sleep depth by the communication device 6. Transmit to the center 30. The information management center 30 is a center that collects disturbance information from many vehicles and many information providers and analyzes and manages the disturbance information. The information management center 30 includes a server 31 that stores and analyzes disturbance information, and a communication unit 32 that transmits and receives information to and from the ECU 2. The cellular phone 50 is possessed by the information provider, and the information provider transmits disturbance information such as events and weather to the information management center 30 by the cellular phone 50.

  The server 31 includes a storage unit 31a that is a database that stores disturbance information, and a disturbance analysis unit 31b that analyzes disturbance information. The storage unit 31a stores disturbance information such as sharp curves, steps, noise, rattling roads, construction, events and weather (rain, lightning, storm), and a place where the disturbance information exists in association with each other. Furthermore, the degree of disturbance, such as whether or not the user is likely to wake up, and the change in the sleep depth corresponding to the degree of disturbance are linked and stored. Of the disturbance information stored in the storage unit 31a, old information for which a predetermined time has elapsed is erased.

  The disturbance analysis unit 31b has an information processing function for analyzing disturbance information. Specifically, the disturbance analysis unit 31b analyzes the degree of disturbance such as how much noise or vibration the disturbance information is, or how many steps or curves are present. Moreover, the disturbance analysis part 31b analyzes the sleep depth corresponding to the disturbance degree, and acquires information on how deep the sleep depth is with respect to the disturbance degree. The information analyzed by the disturbance analysis unit 31b is stored in the storage unit 31a. Instead of storing all the information described above in the storage unit 31a, for example, only disturbance information analyzed by the disturbance analysis unit 31b as having a disturbance degree equal to or greater than a reference value may be stored in the storage unit 31a. .

  The communication unit 32 functions as a communication unit that communicates with the information management center 30 that collects disturbance information. The communication unit 32 transmits / receives information to / from the vehicle 100 provided with the sleep control device 51 or the mobile phone 50. In addition, the communication unit 32 appropriately receives disturbance information from an arbitrary vehicle 100 and transmits it to the server 31. Further, the communication unit 32 receives disturbance information such as events, weather, and construction information from the mobile phone 50 and transmits it to the server 31. In addition, the communication unit 32 has a function of providing disturbance information related to a traveling route from the information management center 30 toward the vehicle 100 by communicating with the communication device 6 of the sleep control device 51, Disturbance information stored in the unit 31 a is transmitted to the ECU 2 via the communication device 6.

  Next, only differences from the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 with respect to an example of the operation of the sleep control device 51 according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the disturbance information acquisition process in S20. Specifically, in S20, not only the detection signals of curve detection, step detection and sound detection by the disturbance information acquisition unit 4, but also disturbance information stored in the storage unit 31a transmitted from the information management center 30 is communicated. It is acquired by receiving at the machine 6. In the vehicle 100, every time disturbance information is acquired by the disturbance information acquisition unit 4, the position information of the disturbance is also transmitted to the information management center 30 by the communication device 6. In S20, only disturbance information stored in the storage unit 31a may be acquired.

  As described above, according to the sleep control device 51 according to the second embodiment, disturbance information such as construction and rattling can be acquired in advance from the information management center 30 as shown in FIG. Therefore, disturbance information can be obtained without the disturbance information acquisition unit 4 in the vehicle 100. Furthermore, disturbance information collected from a large number of vehicles and information obtained by analyzing the disturbance information are also provided, so that disturbance information with high reliability can be obtained.

  As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the vehicle 100 includes the sleep control devices 1 and 51, and the target sleep depth setting unit 26 controls the sleep depth of the user of the vehicle 100 based on the disturbance information. Therefore, the user of the vehicle 100 can be prevented from being awakened by the disturbance before the scheduled awakening time T elapses, and the sleep depth of the user can be appropriately controlled.

  In addition, said 1st and 2nd embodiment demonstrated embodiment of the sleep control apparatus and mobile body which concern on this invention, and the sleep control apparatus and mobile body which concern on this invention were described in this embodiment. It is not limited to things. The sleep control device and the moving body according to the present invention are obtained by modifying the sleep control device and the moving body according to this embodiment so as not to change the gist described in each claim, or by applying to other things. Also good.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments, for example, as shown in S20 of FIG. 2, an example has been described in which disturbance information is acquired at regular intervals during vehicle travel. However, the timing of acquiring the disturbance information is not limited to this, and may be acquired in advance when the vehicle 100 starts, for example, when communication with the information management center 30 is possible.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the example which performs the sleep control of the user boarding the vehicle 100 by making the mobile body into the vehicle 100 was demonstrated. However, the moving body is not limited to the vehicle, and the target of sleep control is not limited to the user who rides on the vehicle 100. For example, disturbance information such as turbulence or large waves may be acquired by using the moving body as an aircraft or a ship, and the sleep depth of the passenger of the aircraft or ship may be controlled based on the acquired disturbance information.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,51 ... Sleep control apparatus, 2 ... ECU, 3 ... Physiological information detection part, 4 ... Disturbance information acquisition part, 5 ... Stimulus imparting apparatus, 21 ... Sleepiness degree detection part, 22 ... Sleep depth determination part, 23 ... Sleep pattern Storage unit, 24 ... Sleep pattern selection unit, 25 ... Sleep time measurement unit, 26 ... Target sleep depth correction unit, 27 ... Sleep depth comparison unit, 28 ... Giving stimulus control unit, 30 ... Information management center, 31 ... Server, 31a ... storage part, 31b ... disturbance analysis part, 32 ... communication part, 100 ... vehicle.

Claims (3)

Disturbance information acquisition means for acquiring disturbance information;
E Bei and control means for controlling the sleep depth of the user based on the disturbance information acquired by the disturbance information acquisition means,
The said control means is a sleep control apparatus which deepens a user's sleep depth before receiving disturbance . Comprising communication means for communicating with an information management center for collecting disturbance information;
The sleep control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the sleep depth of the user based on disturbance information collected by the information management center received by the communication unit. A mobile body equipped with a sleep control device,
The sleep control device is a sleep control device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The said control means is a moving body which controls the sleep depth of the user of the said moving body based on the said disturbance information.

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